Fourteen graduates set to miss out on dental foundation training

dental foundation training
Fourteen graduates are set to miss out on dental foundation training due to a lack of places

The number of dental foundation training places is set to fall short by around 14 places according to the BDA.

This will leave 14 graduates without a place for foundation training come September, causing the British Dental Association (BDA) to push Health Education England and the Department of Health for additional funding through August to help find more places.

More than 30 graduates were left without a dental foundation training position in 2012 and 2013, however in 2014 and 2015 no graduates went without a place.

No surprise

‘A knowing failure on the part of Health Education England and the Department of Health to provide adequate funding risks leaving qualified graduates without training places,’ Judith Husband, chair of the BDA’s Education, Ethics and the Dental Team Working Group, said.

‘For these young dentists, missing out on a training place is a tragedy.

‘It means charting an uncertain path at the start of their careers, with huge student debts looming over them.

‘For the taxpayer, it means squandering over £150,000 in training, and loss of access to qualified NHS professionals for years to come. 

‘This shortfall shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone.

‘The powers that be have known since January 2016 what the maximum number of necessary training places would be.

‘Before the end of August they must refocus their efforts and ensure young dentists who want to provide NHS care are not disqualified from caring for NHS patients.’

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